Month summary
Wellington weather in May
⚠️ Fair
🌡️ Temperature min / max
52°F – 59°F
🌧 Rainy days
37% of days
☀️ Sunshine
8.7h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Spring
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
6.1/10
📅 📅 Best month
January (7.8/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit Wellington in May?
⚠️ Fair
✅ Yes if: you want to explore the city on foot without suffering from heat.
❌ No if: you're looking for a beach destination — water and air are still cool.
Our take: Wellington in May is possible but January offers a score of 7.8/10 vs 6.1.
By trip type
Wellington in May by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ⚠️ Possible
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ⚠️ Possible
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : ❌ Not recommended
- 💰 💰 Budget : ✅ Low season
Local context
What to expect in May
Spring marks the start of the good season in Wellington. Temperatures rise (15°F) and tourists have not yet arrived en masse. Expect rain on 37% of days — a light raincoat in the bag is recommended. Not the best window, but acceptable if dates are constrained. January (7.8/10) is significantly better if possible.
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Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °F | Max °F | Rain % | Precip in | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌤️ January | 59°F | 68°F | 26% | 0.1in | 13.6h | 7.8/10 |
| 🌤️ February | 61°F | 68°F | 26% | 0.1in | 12.9h | 7.7/10 |
| 🌤️ March | 57°F | 66°F | 32% | 0.1in | 11.0h | 7.3/10 |
| ⛅ April | 55°F | 63°F | 32% | 0.1in | 10.0h | 7.1/10 |
| ⛅ May | 52°F | 59°F | 37% | 0.1in | 8.7h | 6.1/10 |
| 🌦️ June | 50°F | 55°F | 41% | 0.1in | 7.9h | 4.8/10 |
| 🌦️ July | 48°F | 54°F | 43% | 0.1in | 8.0h | 4.5/10 |
| 🌦️ August | 48°F | 54°F | 42% | 0.1in | 9.1h | 4.9/10 |
| 🌦️ September | 50°F | 57°F | 40% | 0.1in | 10.7h | 6.2/10 |
| 🌦️ October | 52°F | 59°F | 41% | 0.1in | 11.5h | 7.0/10 |
| ⛅ November | 55°F | 63°F | 39% | 0.1in | 12.8h | 7.1/10 |
| 🌤️ December | 57°F | 64°F | 37% | 0.1in | 13.2h | 7.3/10 |
Ideal
Fair
Challenging climate
◀ Current month · Source Open-Meteo · 10 years
📊 Data source
Data based on 10 years of ERA5 records via Open-Meteo, with ECMWF seasonal adjustment. In May, Wellington averages 59°F, 37% rainy days and 8.7h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 6.1/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
May vs January (best month)
The best month is January (score 7.8/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +5°F
- 🌧 Rainy days : -11%
- ☀️ Sunshine : +4.9h/day
FAQ
FAQ — Wellington in May
Is May a good time to visit Wellington?
May is an acceptable time for Wellington (score 6.1/10). Conditions are decent but not optimal — consider January (7.8/10) if possible.
What to do in Wellington in May?
With 59°F max and 8.7h of sunshine, focus on cultural sites, museums and local gastronomy.
Accommodation
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